Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and RF coil device

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes a power transmitting unit, a signal receiving unit and an image reconstruction unit ( 62 ). The power transmitting unit wirelessly transmits electric power to an RF coil device by magnetically coupled resonant type wireless power transfer. The signal receiving unit wirelessly receives a digitized nuclear magnetic resonance signal wirelessly transmitted from the RF coil device. The image reconstruction unit obtains a nuclear magnetic resonance signal received by the signal receiving unit, and reconstructs image data of an object on the basis of the nuclear magnetic resonance signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus configured to receive a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal from an RF coil that detects an NMR signal emitted from an object, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
 a double resonance whole body (WB) coil configured as a birdcage coil and to wirelessly transmit an alternating current power to an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) RF coil that detects a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal emitted from an object, the double resonance WB coil comprising: 
 a circular loop conductor; and 
 a linear connecting conductor, 
 wherein the double resonance WB coil is configured to resonate at an NMR frequency and at a lower alternating current power supply frequency, wirelessly transmit electric power to a power receiving circuit of the RF coil at the power supply frequency, and to also induce the object to emit NMR signals by transmitting RF NMR excitation signals into said object, and 
 an RF NMR signal having the NMR frequency is connected to one of the circular loop conductor and the linear connecting conductor, and an alternating current power signal having said power supply frequency is connected to the other of the circular loop conductor and the linear connecting conductor. 
 
     
     
       2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the RF coil includes (A) a power receiving coil element configured to receive wirelessly transmitted electric power and (B) a coil element configured to detect NMR signals from the object. 
     
     
       3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the MRI apparatus is configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to the RF coil continuously, including a period during which an RF NMR excitation pulse is transmitted to an imaging region and a period during which thus induced NMR signals are detected by the RF coil. 
     
     
       4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the power transmitting unit is configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to the RF coil device, avoiding a period during which an RF NMR excitation pulse is transmitted from the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus to an imaging region. 
 
     
     
       5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the NMR apparatus is configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to the RF coil, avoiding a period during which NMR signals are detected by the RF coil. 
     
     
       6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the MRI apparatus is configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to the RF coil, avoiding (A) a period during which an RF NMR excitation pulse is transmitted to an imaging region and (B) a period during which NMR signals are detected by the RF coil. 
     
     
       7. A double resonance whole body (WB) coil configured as a birdcage coil and to wirelessly transmit an alternating current power to an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) RF coil that detects a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal emitted from an object, the double resonance WB coil comprising:
 a circular loop conductor; and 
 a linear connecting conductor, 
 wherein the double resonance WB coil is configured to resonate at an NMR frequency and at a lower alternating current power supply frequency, wirelessly transmit electric power to a power receiving circuit of the RF coil at the power supply frequency, and to also induce the object to emit NMR signals by transmitting RF NMR excitation signals into said object, and 
 an RF NMR signal having the NMR frequency is connected to one of the circular loop conductor and the linear connecting conductor, and an alternating current power signal having said power supply frequency is connected to the other of the circular loop conductor and the linear connecting conductor.